Folding table



Patented g. 1, 1922..

" 1. 7K. ZIELONKO;

FOLDING TABLE.-

APPLICATION FILED- OCT. 19, I92].

JOSEPH K. ZIELONKO, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

romaine TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Aug. 1, 1922..

Application filed October 19, 1921. Serial No. 508,696.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnri-r K. ZInLoNKo, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to a table of the type that can be folded so as to be set aside or stacked in a small space and which, when extended, is sturdy and rigid.

The invention is designed to provide a table in which the table can be easily and quickly folded or extended by a manipulation of the top, whereby the necessity of handling widely separated parts of the structure is avoided, thus saving time and labor and overcoming any necessity of excessive stooping or of turning the table over to fold it.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a table made according to my invention. Figure 2 is an end view thereof. Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section on line4- lin Figure 2. Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 in Figure 3. Figure 6 is a detail view of the connection between a brace and a leg of the table. Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the table folded, and Figure 8 is an end view of a table of modified form in folded position.

The table folds vertically, that is, it has its horizontal portions adapted to swing so that the legs are brought close together and can still support the table when it is folded.

To provide for this disposition I make the table of two members, each having a top, legs and a brace or stiffening part to hold the legs steady.

The members comprise each a top 10 and legs 11,, which legs are secured to the top near the outer corner thereof, whereby each top section has two legs, these being hinged, as at 12, to the top, the stringers 13 underneath the top in line with the legs being cut away or shortened, as at 14, so that each leg, when extended, is held by its hinge on one face and the end 14 of its stringer on the other face, as will be seen from Figure 1.

The brace of each member is hinged to the legs near the lower part thereof, and in the form. shown consists of an arm 15 which is hinged to the legs 11 by the rod 16 and is held against movement on the rod, and the table is given a better appearance by the pieces 17. The opposed arms 15 are hinged together, as at 18, and when they are horizontal their ends abut, as do the ends of the two parts of the table top.

When the table is in its extended position, as in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the table top is held against separation by a suitable catch, the catch illustrated being made of a substantially fiat plate 19 pivoted at one end, as at 20, to the under side of one section of the top and having a slot 21 to receive a stud 22 on the other section. I also prefer to extend one of the top sections beyond its stringer, as at 23, and inset the other one correspondingly, as at 24, so that when the top sections are in horizontal position the abutting of'these parts and the ends of the stringers prevents sagging.

The top sections are held in alignment by means such as the bolts 25 which slide across the joint of the top sections and, seated in the keepers 26, stififen the structure. These bolts are'preferably placed on the inner faces of the stringers 13 on each side of the table top and can be easily manipulated by means of the handles 27. i

The table can thus be secured at the top and also released without undue stooping, and can also be folded by manipulation of the top sections by reason of a connection between the top sections and the braces, since at least one of the members has a stay 28 pivoted at 29 to one of the arms 15 of the brace of that member, and pivoted at 30 to the top section of the member.

As will be seen in dotted outline in Figure 1, after the bolts 25 are slid back and the catch 19 released, the top sections are swung upward, and this also carries the arms 15 of the braces upward until these parts are substantially parallel and the legs of the opposed members are close together, as in Figure 7 The table is now folded and can be either set flat against the wall, or a number of them can be stacked fiat-wise one on the other;

The parts will normally maintain this folded position, but, if desired, the inner ends of the stringers 13 can be secured together, as by a hinge 31 shown in Figure 8.

Various modifications and changes as to the proportions and style of the table and its various parts can be made Without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A table comprising two members, each member comprising a top, a'pair of legs hinged to the top, stringers on which the hinged ends of the legs abut when the top is horizontal, a rod connecting the legs at their lower part, an arm hinged to the center of the rod, the members being hinged together at the tops and at the inner ends of the arms, and a stay pivoted to an arm and the top 01 one of the members.

2. A table comprising two members, each member comprising a top, a pair of legs hinged to the top, stringers on which the hinged ends of the legs abut when the top is horizontal, a rod connecting the legs at their lower part, an arm hinged to the center of the rod, the members being hinged together at the tops and at the inner ends of JOSEPH K. ZIELONKO. 

